A ROYAL VISIT The plan was to take a break from touring and relax at home in Nashville with friends, family, and golf games. The plan changed for Kings of Leon when one member of the pop/rock quartet wrote a couple of tunes that turned on the creative spigot for their latest release, "Mechanical Bull." Feb. 28, 8 p.m. $29.50-$65.50. TD Garden, 100 Legends Way, Boston. 800-745-3000, www.livenation.com

HIPSTER WITH A SOCK PUPPET It's Joshua to the rescue when poor Mr. Nicholas the sock puppet is feeling lonely and hopeless. How does Joshua do it? With puppets, a ukulele, physical comedy, and tap dancing. That's what you can expect at "The Joshua Show," the brainchild of award-winning puppeteer Joshua Holden, who's been described as "a modern-day Mr. Rogers with hipster appeal." The show is presented as part of the Puppets at Night series for adults and teens. Feb. 28-March 1, 8 p.m. $15. Puppet Showplace Theatre, 32 Station St., Brookline. 617-731-6400, ext. 101; www.puppetshowplace.org

THEY WEARE IT WELL Here's a New York-based troupe to transport you to another world, one of identity and relationships. The contemporary dance Kate Weare Company presents "Garden" and excerpts from "Dark Lark!" Feb. 28, 7:30 p.m. March 1, 8 p.m.; talks 30 minutes before shows. $40. Institute of Contemporary Art, 100 Northern Ave., Boston. 617-876-4275, www.worldmusic.org

WAVE OF SUCCESS Canadian electronic duo DVBBS, featuring brothers Chris and Alex Andre, hit it big with the hit "Tsunami." When asked what fans could expect on their current tour, Alex told vibe.com, "We're planning on bringing out some dope production, dropping a bunch of new tracks we have been working on for the last few months, and definitely just more crowd interaction and energy for almost two hours straight." Feb. 28, 10 p.m. $25. Royale, 279 Tremont St., Boston. 617-338-7699, www.royaleboston.com

SATURDAY

HOT AND COLD We thought we'd had enough ice for one season, then we heard about ice bowling. It's one of the attractions Fire & Ice: A Winter Festival, which also features ice sculpture demonstrations by Don Chappelle on the cold side, and on the hot side, fire spinning by A Different Spin. Children's activities, hot drinks, ice cream, special cocktails, and other activities keep the square hopping. March 1, 3-6 p.m. Free. Union Square, Somerville. www.somervilleartscouncil.org

A WOLF AT THE DOOR The New Orleans Musicians Clinic benefits from the Wolf's Annual Mardi Gras Ball while you benefit from an evening of R&B from the late 40s and 50s. Shaun Wolf Wortis and the Legendary Vudu Krewe welcome Hayley Jane, Will Dailey, Amber Casares, Abbie Barrett, and the Boston Babydolls. March 1, 9 p.m. doors $12. T.T. the Bearís Place, 10 Brookline St., Cambridge. 617 492-2327, www.mardigrasballs.com

SUNDAY

PERFECT PITCH For 40 years, this Grammy-nominated female African-American a cappella group has musically pitched themes of Challenge and change. With its arsenal of blues, African, jazz, gospel, and R&B music, the 23 vocalists of Sweet Honey In The Rock have traveled the world and been the subject of two PBS documentaries. March 2, 5 p.m. $30 and up. Symphony Hall, 301 Massachusetts Ave., Boston. 617-482-6661, www.celebrityseries.org

AND THE WINNER IS Before you get too involved with posing for the paparazzi, sipping some bubbly, and sampling the oysters, beef tartare, chick pea frites, and foie gras torchon, fill out your Oscar ballot (before 8 p.m.) so you can compare your votes with the real ones. Canary Square's Oscar Party prizes include best interpretation of a character from the Oscar-nominated films. March 2, 7 p.m. Free. Canary Square, 435 S. Huntington Ave., Jamaica Plain. 617-524-2500, www.canarysquare.com